Summary
Apple Log LUTs for Final Cut Pro are .cube conversion LUTs that turn iPhone Apple Log footage into Rec.709 inside FCP, applied through the Custom LUT effect. They restore contrast and colour while preserving the dynamic range of the log file. In Final Cut Pro the conversion must sit at the top of the clip's effect list, above any creative look, so every adjustment after it behaves predictably.
What Are Apple Log LUTs?
Apple Log is the flat recording curve your iPhone uses to protect highlight and shadow detail. It is a storage format, not a viewing format, so the footage arrives in Final Cut Pro looking grey and desaturated. A conversion LUT is the transform that translates that log data into Rec.709 — the standard colour space for normal viewing.
Apple Log LUTs — ProRes Log to Rec709 Conversion is a $14.00 pack that includes:
- 5 Apple Log to Rec.709 conversion LUTs — five transform options, so you can match the conversion to the shot rather than forcing one result on everything.
- A step-by-step installation manual — written setup instructions.
- .cube format — the format Final Cut Pro's Custom LUT effect reads natively.
They support Apple Log from iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models, shot in the native Camera app or the Blackmagic Camera app. If LUTs are new to you, start with what is a LUT.
How Apple Log LUTs Work in Final Cut Pro
Final Cut Pro is macOS-only, and it handles custom LUTs through a built-in effect rather than a system folder. Here is the workflow:
- Download and unzip the pack — keep the .cube files somewhere permanent, such as a Luts folder inside your project or media drive. Final Cut Pro references the file, so do not delete it after loading.
- Import your Apple Log clips — bring them into your library and cut your timeline as normal.
- Open the Effects Browser — click the Effects button at the top right of the timeline, or press Command-5.
- Find the Custom LUT effect — search for "Custom LUT" in the Effects Browser search field. It sits under the Color category.
- Drag Custom LUT onto your clip — or select the clip and double-click the effect to apply it.
- Load the .cube file — select the clip, open the Video inspector (Command-4), find the Custom LUT effect, click the LUT pop-up menu and choose Choose Custom LUT. Navigate to the .cube file and open it.
- Check the position of the effect — in the Video inspector, the Custom LUT effect must be the topmost entry in the effects list. Effects are processed top to bottom, so anything above the conversion is being applied to raw log data.
- Compare the five conversions — swap the loaded .cube and watch a representative shot. Pick the one that holds your highlights and skin tones best.
- Correct after converting — use the Color Inspector's Color Board, Color Wheels or Curves below the LUT to trim exposure and white balance.
To apply the same conversion across a whole sequence, set one clip up, copy it with Command-C, select the rest, then use Edit > Paste Attributes (Shift-Command-V) and tick Effects.
Why the Conversion LUT Goes First
In Final Cut Pro, the Video inspector's effect list is the render order. The topmost effect runs first, and each effect below receives the output of the one above it.
Your conversion LUT belongs at the top of that list, before any creative look LUT. The reason is simple: the transform is calculated for Apple Log input. Feed it something that has already been contrast-boosted or stylised and the maths no longer matches the data. You get crushed blacks, clipped highlights, and colour that will not respond sensibly to correction.
The correct order in a Final Cut Pro clip, top to bottom:
- Custom LUT with the Apple Log to Rec.709 conversion — the translation step.
- Colour corrections — Color Wheels, Color Curves, Hue/Saturation Curves for exposure, white balance and contrast.
- A second Custom LUT with a creative look — film emulations and stylised grades such as those in CineFilm Cinematic Film LUT Pack.
- Finishing effects — vignettes, grain, sharpening.
If you ever drag an effect above the Custom LUT by accident, the image will usually tell you immediately — the picture goes brittle and contrasty in a way no slider fixes.
Tips for Final Cut Pro Editors
- Use the Mix slider — the Custom LUT effect has a Mix control. Pulling it back slightly leaves more headroom for a creative look on top without desaturating the whole frame.
- Set it once, paste it everywhere — Paste Attributes keeps the conversion consistent across a scene so shots intercut cleanly.
- Watch the scopes — open the video scopes (Command-7) and check the waveform after conversion. You want highlights sitting below clipping and shadows off the floor.
- Keep the .cube files with the project — FCP links to the file path. Moving or renaming the folder later will break the effect.
- Do not double-convert — if you have already applied a camera LUT or a colour-management transform elsewhere, remove it. One conversion per clip.
Once the image is neutral, the creative decisions get much easier to judge.
Conclusion
Final Cut Pro makes Apple Log conversion straightforward: one Custom LUT effect, loaded at the top of the effect list, and your flat iPhone footage becomes a balanced Rec.709 image with its dynamic range intact. Keep the conversion first, correct second, and style third. Apple Log LUTs — ProRes Log to Rec709 Conversion gives you 5 conversion LUTs in .cube format plus a step-by-step installation manual for $14.00.
FAQ
Q: How do I apply a .cube LUT in Final Cut Pro?
A: Add the Custom LUT effect from the Effects Browser to your clip, then in the Video inspector open the LUT pop-up menu, choose Choose Custom LUT, and select the .cube file.
Q: Where should the conversion LUT sit in the effect list?
A: At the very top. Final Cut Pro processes effects from top to bottom, so the Apple Log to Rec.709 conversion must run before any correction or creative look LUT.
Q: Can I apply the LUT to several clips at once?
A: Yes. Set up one clip, copy it, select the others, then use Edit > Paste Attributes and tick Effects.
Q: What is in the pack and what does it cost?
A: 5 Apple Log to Rec.709 conversion LUTs in .cube format and a step-by-step installation manual, for $14.00.
Q: Which iPhone footage is supported?
A: Apple Log from iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models, recorded in the native Camera app or the Blackmagic Camera app.
Q: Does this work on Final Cut Pro for Windows?
A: Final Cut Pro is macOS-only. The .cube files themselves are cross-platform and work in Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, After Effects, Avid Media Composer, LumaFusion and CapCut.